Stumpy Handi 357

[Nate C]

Haven't posted here in awhile.  USPS dropped this barrel off today, and I have to show someone



Props to ADCO - I sent them the barrel and $80 ($55 to cut/thread/crown + $15 for a thread protector) on 3/10, and got it back this morning. 

(Edited 3/24 with a better photo)

[petemi]

That is nice.     Now all you have to do is rent the reamer and make it a Maxi.  If you're putting a can on it, sub-sonic .38s ought to be really quiet.  Good luck with it.

Pete

[YRUpunting?]

Pete's right as usual about the Maxi.  From all the interest in the 300 blackout I've wondered why no one hasn't made a 357 version of it.  Looks like someone has!

How long is that barrel?  I have two maxi's and I keep thinking about shortening one but just can't bring myself to do it. 

[cwlongshot]

LOOKS GREAT!!!

Enjoy it!

CW

[Nate C]

Barrel on this one is 16.5

I may someday extend the chamber for the 'max but for now I'm just tinkering with 38spl and 357 mags.

I just loaded up some Hornady 200gr RN, 158 XTP, and 180 XTP - some subsonic, some sonic to see how they shoot.

[hoytcanon]

Nice...  that is a Handi little gun... I am leaving all of mine as Mag's... I have a bunch of other calibers to handle the Maxi performance level. I chopped my .357 to 18" (shortest we can go here in Canuckistan on an aftermarket chop)... it has become a Mannlicher forest carry gun.

[Dinny]

Keep in mind the throat that H&R cuts doesn't have a leade, it's more like a forcing cone better suited for shotguns. I don't recall anyone losing accuracy from any of the 38s or 357s after the chamber was reamed with the GBO Maximum rifle-style rental reamer.

Thanks, Dinny

[Shu]

Looks great. Leaving it as a mag or taking it to max is always a tough decision. There is alot of versatility either way. I like those short barrels, they make the gun just a bit better. Long barrels are for people who need to compensate.
 

[cudatruck]

I don't get the tough decesion part! why? using a little logic , the maxi reamer cuts a decent leade removing the forcing cone style chamber. it will then shoot 38s 357s and 357 max all better than it did before! whats so hard to decide on? how would reaming to a longer caliber that still shoots the other DECREASE versatillity?

[quickdtoo]

As everyone has said, the Maxi reamer doesn't just allow longer brass to be chambered, it also makes improvements to the beginning of the rifling(leade) which is already a jump in the factory 357mag, many factory barrels can chamber the longer 360 Dan Wesson brass(1.410" long) without trimming, or trimmed Maxi brass, the 6º angle in the rifling cut by the reamer is what makes the big difference in accuracy.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,125780.msg1098446320.html#msg1098446320

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

if you can get the reamer, then there seems to be no downside for going Max

without the reamer, you can still load some Big-A$$ bullets for subsonic...   I have seen loads for 250-270gr in a Maggie.
with an H&R, you can usually seat them WAAAAAY out, to give a case capacity of the Maxi anyways.

[Dinny]

if you can get the reamer, then there seems to be no downside for going Max
without the reamer, you can still load some Big-A$$ bullets for subsonic...   I have seen loads for 250-270gr in a Maggie.

I shoot 230gr cast bullets in my Maxi with TB for velocities in the mid 700s. Accuracy is phenomenal. Noise and recoil is very low.

Thanks, Dinny

[Nate C]

Shot it today.   Only at 50 yards, but this was good for my second time out with the rifle.  The first trip did not go nearly as well.  Not sure if a.) the gun is breaking in and shooting better b.) the cut/crown cleaned up some blem on the factory crown that I didn't notice c.) the shorter barrel has a better harmonic or d.) the force was with me today....

In any case - groups today were half what they were the one and only time I shot it with the 22" barrel.

(Correction on the pic - those were 180gr XTP, not 185.)




I am looking forward to loading more of the 200gr Hornady roundnose bullets.

[Dinny]

Shorter barrels generally shoot better due to stiffness. Also, a good clean crown never hurts.

Thanks, Dinny

[hoytcanon]

I am a newbie to Handi .357's, all my current .357's are lever actions... I am going to test the gun extensively "before" I jump on the Maxi bandwagon.